Chartered Health & Safety Consultants...

Good health and safety doesn’t make the world go round but it makes the ride worthwhile ... when the results add real value and long term improvements to your business. Let us HELP make it happen for YOU!

Safety Failings Results in Fine for Manufacturing

A manufacturer that produces farm machinery has been fined after pleading guilty for breaching Regulation 20 of the Provision of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations. K Two Sales Limited was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive after one of their workers suffered with sever leg injuries after his leg was crushed under a trailer in August 2011.

The 42 year old worker, Waldemar Makowski, was trying to move a chassis using a fork lift truck and a draw bar. This system failed resulting in the chassis becoming loose and falling off the support onto his leg and crushing it. He had many fractures in his leg and was off work for many months as he needed to recover from his injuries.

Risks Were not Considered

The Health and Safety Executive inspectors investigated the accident. They found that K Two Sales had not taken into consideration the risks of the chassis dropping. The firm had also failed to put in place a safe system of work that would reduce the risks when supporting and relocating the heavy items on the site. The case was heard at Aylesbury Magistrates Court on October 15 2012. The court was told how since the accident the draw bar has been redesigned to incorporate an integral supporting leg. They considered the chassis movement was the cause of the accident and the new supporting leg will help to prevent such accidents from reoccurring.

After pleading guilty K Two Sales were fined £16,000 and had to pay an additional sum of £3,102 for court costs. The inspector overseeing the hearing, Karl Howes, said that this case showed that employers must take into consideration the stability of equipment being used for work. If a full and adequate risk assessment had been carried out, the danger posed by moving the chassis would have been highlighted and the accident would not have happened if safety measures had been introduced sooner.

Avoid Prosecution and Learn the Laws and Regulations

The Health and Safety Executive will always prosecute employers that put their employees at risk by failing to assess the risks. If you would like help creating risk assessments or safe working methods you can always reach out to health and safety consultants. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act says that it is the employer’s duty to do everything that is reasonably practicable to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees at work is of the highest standard. In particular it is necessary to provide and maintain plant and work systems that are safe and don’t act as a risk to the health of the workers.

If you would like to find out more about how health and safety services can benefit you and your employees please contact us. We provide training as well as many other services that can help you to learn the risks found within your company. You can reach us by calling 0800 1488 677 or by completing our quick enquiry form online.